About

Denise was Kristel’s high school Spanish teacher, and they’ve known each other for 30 years. Kristel was diagnosed with stage 2B ILC five years ago when she was 38. Three years later Denise was diagnosed with DCIS. Earlier this year they began working on this project to help others diagnosed with cancer to express their story through flowers.

Photo Credit: Echo Bristol, Exquisite Images

Our Story

Being sick isn’t weak and having cancer doesn’t make us warriors. If someone dies from cancer, they are not losers. War imagery and metaphor is cliche, can be demeaning and lacks depth in describing the experience. We are more than our diagnosis, our body parts, our treatment and our outcome. We are also shaped by these events and circumstances too.

Photo Credit: Echo Bristol, Exquisite Images

We continue to adjust to our new bodies, without breasts, with different breasts, in between breast reconstruction and chests with prosthetics and all the while seeking support. Support, physically and emotionally. The bra is a symbol of our liability as humans with breasts. The bra also symbolizes a metaphor of support, style, comfort, practicalities and our sexuality. We have a love-hate with this garment. 

Everyone experiences this journey differently, thus our “More than This” project seeks to explore the unique perspectives and nuances of individuals who have experienced or are currently experiencing breast cancer through artistic floral expression. People who have experienced or are experiencing breast cancer will be paired with a floral designer to create a story with flowers and body positivity. Since childhood, the expectation of wearing a bra has been ingrained in our minds and the first bra is a milestone.

Since childhood, we have covered our chest even before breasts develop. Some have struggled physically and emotionally, worrying if our breasts were the right size, too small, too big and too misshapen. Some of us have the “ideal” breast that is sought after and desired. That too can be a burden because to us, it is another body part we have to manage to fit into the gray zone of societal norms: just enough but not too much. 

We are more than our body parts. This project seeks to redefine our relationship to our bodies and our cancer journey.

More Than This is a non profit 501 (C) 3 charitable organization